Washington International Horse Show's puissance competition in danger of extinction

Nancy Jaffer/For The Star-LedgerPablo Barrios of Venezuela won what may be the last puissance held at the Washington International Horse Show. He was aboard G&C Blanchee Z.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The puissance, a big drawing card for the Washington International Horse Show, is a rare breed that seems to be an endangered species.

The traditional power jump contest over a faux brick wall, which gets higher with each round in the Verizon Center, is the only competition of its kind in the Western Hemisphere approved by the international equestrian federation.

While spectators love it, the puissance has fallen out of favor with riders, who these days travel with horses geared to handling the technical aspects of entire courses where the fences are much lower, but far less straightforward. The National Horse Show in New York and Toronto's Royal Winter Fair, which both used to host the class, no longer do so.

The Washington Show, which ends Sunday, attracted just five starters for the high-profile competition that ended in anti-climax after only two rounds with the wall reaching just 6 feet, 1-inch. The record, set in 1983 when the International was at another venue, is 7 feet, 7 and 1/2 inches.

So is Washington calling it quits with the puissance?

"It's just a question of when we decide enough's enough,'' said David Distler, co-manager of the show.

"When you have something no one wants to go in, or you have to beg someone to go in, what's the point of doing it?''

On the other hand, he noted, "It's simple to understand. The crowd loves it.''

And he acknowledged, "Even still, if we never ran it again, 10 years from now people would still call up and ask `When is the pia-sance?' ''

Distler, who is also the co-manager of the prestigious spring Devon, Pa., show, noted the popularity of the class with fans is such that while "We've never had one at Devon, they call anyway and ask if we have one.''

Although three horses cleared the wall in the second round here, two mishaps scuttled the chance of raising the obstacle again. Benjamin Meredith, a native of Australia living in Maryland, soared over the fence with Udonna, prompting McLain Ward (who retired the puissance trophy here) to predict he would win.

Unfortunately, Meredith had jumped what he thought was a practice fence in the ring, something that is prohibited by a fairly recent rule change. The jump originally was listed as being on the route in the ring. However, designer Michel Vaillancourt scratched it off the course map several hours beforehand, and announcements were made that it should not be jumped. Meredith, who did not hear the announcements or take a second look at a course plan, protested to no avail.

Then Shane Sweetnam knocked a rail at the triple-bar that is part of the two-fence course, which put him out of the running, even though he made it over the wall with Traffic Boy. That left Pablo Barrios of Venezuela, the only rider to do everything right, the winner with G&C Blanchee Z. Barrios tied for the puissance victory over 7-feet, 2.6 inches aboard a different horse, Sinatra, last summer in Dublin (puissance is a bit more popular in Europe.)

"It was the perfect storm,'' co-manager Robert Ridland wryly said of the mishaps that cut short the evening.

The situation will be examined by the organizing committee, which could decide to replace the puissance with another class, such as a four-bar, that involves bigger-than-usual jumps.

Spectators who expected to watch a thrilling duel when the wall was raised had an early end to their outing. Though they did get to see another jumper class and a variety of exhibitions, the puissance was why many of them attended.

"It was almost $60 to get these seats. It was kind of pointless,'' said Sabrina Heron, who traveled two hours from western Maryland to get a front-row vantage point for what she considered the highlight of the show.

"It's the only reason we came,'' said Jackie Walters of Annapolis, Md., another front row patron.

ON THE RAIL IN N.J.

For 30 years, Jim Geibel of Wall Township did not let paralysis get in the way of his contributions as a riding instructor, trainer, course designer and author of numerous articles on equestrian subjects.

Mr. Geibel, 61, who died Wednesday when complications set in following surgery, became a quadriplegic after a 1980 diving accident. The way he handled the disability that so abruptly ended his days as a rider was inspirational.

"He never said, 'Why me?' '' recalled his sister, Jan Laszlo of Wall.

"He was never angry about what happened to him. He never looked back. He always had a reason to get up and get out of bed,'' she said, noting he supported his late mother, Margaret, who had been his main caretaker.

"He had a purpose. He had a wonderful attitude,'' she commented.

A familiar face at shows far beyond his home state, Mr. Geibel pulled a wheelchair-accessible house trailer from Florida to Quebec as he traveled to competitions.

Monmouth County Horse Show Co-Chairman Mike Maxwell said, "I was always impressed that he really worked at independence. He had his motorized wheelchair and he got his specially designed mini-van which he could drive himself, something he was very proud of. He was always smiling, he was always happy in spite of what happened to him. He always was very up; he always had a joke for you. He was an amazingly courageous individual.''

A memorial service open to all will be held Nov. 11 at noon in the covered arena at Footlight Farm, 64 Lake Dr., Roosevelt (Monmouth County).

A fund has been started in Mr. Geibel's memory, with contributions going toward purchase of a water truck for East Freehold Park, where the Monmouth County show series is held. His sister said that was something he always felt the facility needed.

Checks should be made out to the James Geibel Memorial Fund, c/o E.H. Thompson Co. Inc., P.O. Box 260, Sea Girt, NJ 08750.

In addition to Jan Laszlo, survivors include another sister, Suzi Dufek; three brothers, Alan, Bill and John Geibel; his daughter, Jesse Tripp, and granddaughter Kayla Tripp.

In an effort to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among New Jersey's horses, the state Department of Agriculture has undertaken measures to enforce medical testing on horses being sold in the state.

Enforcement is being beefed up to make sure horses coming into the state and being sold there have a negative Coggins test for Equine Infectious Anemia and a health certificate signed by a veterinarian.

There is concern that the increased number of equines coming into the state via rescue organizations or for auction from people no longer able to keep them could cause problems if they lack the proper documentation required for selling the animal. Nancy Halpern, state veterinarian and director of the division of animal health, said while paperwork at horse auctions previously was being inspected monthly, now it is being inspected weekly.

"Any attempt to circumvent the proper health tests for horse importation puts every equine in our state in jeopardy,” said Halpern.

Horse dealers who fail to comply can have their livestock dealer’s license revoked and/or be penalized $200 for the first offense and $500 each subsequent offense.

As for private individuals who don't get proper certification, Halpern said that if the horse they bring into a stable is sick, the other animals there likely will get sick too and "then everybody will point the finger at you. That typically is how we will find out.''

Direct questions about the regulations to the state Division of Animal Health: (609) 292-3965.

The annual New Jersey 25-mile ride along the Delaware and Raritan Canal in Blackwell's Mills is set for next Sunday, with a 15-mile conditioning distance ride available at the same time in one of the state's most scenic areas. Volunteers are also needed to help. For information, contact Liz Turrin at (732) 890-0684 or lizturrin@yahoo.com

The Spring Valley Hounds hunt is offering a variety of categories for its hunter pace next Sunday on Route 615 in Allamuchy. Options include side-saddle (only one member of the team needs to ride side-saddle); fossils (for riders whose combined age is at least 110), hunt members and junior riders. There's also an open division. Go to springvalleyhounds.com for more details.

For something different, The Friends of Lord Stirling Stable are holding a unique driving/riding fun day called the Great Swamp Monster Census Nov. 14. You don't know what you'll meet on the trails in Basking Ridge that day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

The event, which starts in the pasture off Lord Stirling Road, takes its inspiration from the old Hunterdon County Horse & Pony Association Autumn Leaves fixture. Dress is casual, helmets are a must, and riders can pair with each other or with a driver to comprise a team for the fun competition where keeping score isn't the point.